Providing support for political and economic reform as part of EU accession negotiations is the central pillar of bilateral relations.

A number of projects supported by Germany promote efforts to implement the reform efforts of democratic forces in Montenegro and to strengthen the country’s administrative structures, especially in legal and administrative reform, promoting civil society and in terms of the role of the media.

Good and successful development cooperation has been established with Montenegro, which Germany has been involved in as the largest bilateral donor. The following areas are focuses of development policy cooperation, which are mainly projects supported by Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ): promoting public infrastructure, particularly in the energy sector and with respect to the supply of drinking water and waste water treatment; development of tourism and the environment; boosting business and employment opportunities, in particular for SMEs.

With the commencement of EU accession negotiations, Montenegro has ceased to be a recipient of bilateral development cooperation. Ongoing projects will, however, be concluded. The EU supports the European integration of Montenegro, for example by means of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA). The IPA is used to promote projects in the fields of the rule of law, human rights, good governance, the green agenda and sustainability, competitiveness and inclusive growth. Based on Germany’s support for Montenegro in tackling the COVID pandemic, for example, through the Robert Koch Institute – Federal Institute for Infectious and Non-communicable Diseases, broad cooperation has developed in the health sector.

Since 2007, a cooperative partnership has been in place between the University of Nikšić’s German Department and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). There is a DAAD academic teacher working at the department. German scholarship and exchange programmes are also very popular.

The Central Agency for Schools Abroad is running the programme that enables pupils to acquire the German Language Certificate at two schools. The Goethe-Institut provides Montenegro with cultural and language services from its offices in Belgrade.